I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

Using Dried Beans – White Bean and Ham Soup

The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosureBy Mavis Butterfield on December 31, 2014 · 7 Comments

I was looking for a no fuss way to use up the last little bits of our holiday ham and decided a quick white bean and ham soup would do the trick. My favorite part about this meal was not only did I already have everything sitting in my fridge and cupboards, but it was so incredibly easy to make. I think we often forget how simple dinner can be sometimes. Cooking should be fun… not a chore.

Place 1 cup dried white beans in a bowl and cover with 8 cups boiling water, cover and set aside. In a large stockpot toss in a ham hock, 8 cups of water, spices and bring to a bowl. Reduce heat and simmer for about an hour.

Just before the ham broth is finished cooking, saute the onions, carrots in olive oil {or bacon fat if you have it} and cook until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook an additional minute.

Remove the ham hock from the ham broth. Drain and rinse the beans. Then add the sauteed vegetables, beans and chopped ham to the ham broth and give it a stir. Cook on low for an additional hour or until the beans are nice and tender and then serve with a nice hunk of bread.

Comments

You could cut your kitchen time and make this a one pot dinner by throwing it all in the crock pot and letting it cook all day instead of making it on the stovetop. Rinse and soak your beans overnight and chop your veggies and meat the night before and it’s all ready to go in the crock pot before leaving for work in the morning.

Bean lesson, after much inquiry. Dried beans cannot be softened by hard water, the skins end up tough….same with acidic and salty water. I wonder if this is where the phrase, “you don’t know beans” came from?!